Taking the 2014 Football World Cup Qualifying programme as a starting point, Montague investigates the remarkable political and social history of some of the world's most isolated and war-torn regions. This is not really a book about football, although football and the near impossible quest that these countries embark on to attempt to qualify for the World Cup link the stories that Montague tells.

Since 2002, when the 850 page The Crimson Petal and the White was published, Michel Faber's fans have been waiting for another major novel. It's has finally arrived. Although not quite as long at 560 pages, it's long enough, and enigmatic enough, to satisfy. Faber's books have always defied easy categorisation, this one more than most, and it's difficult to know what to say about it that wouldn't be as likely to put off potential readers as to encourage. That would be a pity, because, as unlikely as it may seem from what I'm going to say about it, it's definitely worth reading.

Elspeth Sandys was born during the Second World War, the result of an encounter between a married man and a young woman. She was born in Dunedin and spent nearly a year living at The Trudy King Karitane Hospital before being adopted into the Somerville family. Her life with Tom and Alice Somerville was conflicted and difficult, Alice was regularly hospitalised with severe mental health issues, especially after the much older Tom died. Their relationship while he was alive was mysterious and hard for Elspeth to understand, it certainly wasn't conventional.

This monumental history of West Auckland is both a beautiful coffee table book, and a comprehensive and authoritative study. At a little under 500 pages, densely illustrated with contemporary and historical photographs, and contributions from experts on every imaginable subject and theme, it's hard to imagine there being any stone unturned.

With the referendum on Scottish independence coming up in September there are quite a lot of books appearing related to the issues. This is a powerful and concise polemic in favour of an independent Scotland by a writer who could be considered a patriotic Scot, and author of perhaps The Great Scottish Novel in Lanark (1981). A lifetime of writing about Scottish history has qualified Gray to hold the opinions he has, and he argues the historical context very well. He examines the many differences between Scotland and England, and attempts to understand the character of Scots.

I've been a big fan of Tim Winton for many years, so a new book from him is a major event. It's been out for a while now; I've been savouring the anticipation of seeing this waiting for me by the bed. Right from the opening words, you know you're in good hands. Every sentence sings, and over 420-odd pages, the impact is cumulative, and tremendously powerful. Winton's portrayal of a man struggling with his many demons - alcohol, drugs, denial, career failure, messed up relationships, he has a few - is utterly convincing.